RF Coax Cable Types, & Specifications: UR & RG

Tabular data from both the UR and RG systems for coax cable providing data on size, impedance, loss propagation constant, etc for the more commonly used types of RF coax cable.

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There are many different varieties of coax cable that can be bought. Different types obviously have different performance specifications.

The choice of a particular type of coax cable depends on a number of factors – each choice being dependent upon the particular requirements for where it is to be used.

Coax cable feeder — Typical coax cable feeder

RG and UR coax cable references

Over the years systems developed whereby standard number systems. This enabled coax made by different manufacturers to conform to the same standard.

Over the years two basic systems evolved for defining RF cables. One originated in the United Kingdom and its type numbers all start with UR. The other system is American with type numbers commencing with the letters RG.

UK UR system for coax cable types: The UR system as defined in the UK and is still widely used for coaxial cable. UR standard for Uniradio, and later the URM series stands for Uniradio Metric.
USA RG systems for coax cable types: The RG series was originally used to specify the types of coax cables for military use, and the specification took the form RG (RG from Radio Guide) plus two numbers. In some instances these numbers were followed by the letter U which indicated it was for multiple uses. These types of coax cable were all listed in the MIL-HDBK-216 which is now obsolete. Although full MIL specifications are now officially used for specifying most components for military use, the RG series of RF cables continued to be used because of its widespread acceptance. However it should be noted that the RG specifications are no longer maintained so there is no complete guarantee to the exact specification for the particular type of coax cable

Coax cable data summary

Data of some of the more commonly used types of coax or coaxial cable: most of these RF cables are easily available from RF coax cable stockists.:

Coax Cable Data
Coax Type	Characteristic impedance	Outside diameter	Velocity factor	Atten @ 100 MHz	Atten @ 1000 MHz	Comments
RG4	50.0	5.74	0.66			Braid shield
RG5/U	52.5	8.4	0.66	1.0	3.8	Braid shield
RG6A/U	75	8.4	0.66	1.0	3.7	Braid shield
RG9/U	51.0	10.7	0.66	0.66	2.4	Braid shield
RG10A/U	50	12.1	0.66	0.66	2.6	Braid shield
RG11A/U	75	10.3	0.66	0.76	2.6	Braid shield
RG12A/U	75	12.1	0.66	0.76	2.6	Braid shield
RG20A/U	50	30.4	0.66	0.22	1.2
RG22	95	10.7	0.66	0.75	1.5	Braid shield
RG23	125	24.0	0.66	0.52	2.0	Braid shield
RG24	125	25.5	0.66	0.52	2.0	Braid shield
RG34	75	16.0	0.66	0.46	1.8	Braid shield
RG58C/U	50	5.0	0.66	1.8	7.6	Braid shield
RG59B/U	75	6.1	0.66	1.2	4.6	Braid shield
RG62A/U	93	6.1	0.84	0.9	2.8	Braid shield
RG63	125	10.3		0.6	2.1	Braid shield
RG79	125	12.1		0.6	2.1	Braid shield
RG108	78	6.0		1.1	3.8	Braid shield
RG111	95	12.1		0.75	2.6	Braid shield
RG114	185	10.3		1.1	3.8	Braid shield
RG119	50	11.8		0.5	1.8	Braid shield
RG120	50	13.3		0.5	1.8	Braid shield
RG122	50	4.1		1.7	5.5	Braid shield
RG213/U	50	10.3	0.66	0.62	2.6	Braid shield, polythene dielectric
RG214/U	50	10.8	0.66	0.76	2.9	Double screened braid, silver plated copper wire
RG223/U	50	5.5	0.66	1.58	5.4	Double screened braid shield
UR43 / URM43	50	5	0.66	1.3	4.46	Plain copper wire braid
UR57 / URM57	75	10.3	0.66	0.63	2.3	Similar to RG11A/U – plain copper wire braid.
UR67 / URM67	50	10.3	0.66	0.66	2.52	Similar to RG213/U – plain copper wire braid
UR74 / URM74	50	22.1	0.66	0.33	1.4	Plain copper wire braid
UR76 / URM76	51	5	0.66	1.7	7.3	Similar to RG58C/U, plain copper wire braid
UR77	75	22.1	0.66	0.33	1.4
UR79	50	21.7	0.96	0.17	0.6
UR90	75	6.1	0.66	1.2	4.1	Similar to RG59B/U
URM91	50	11.0	0.66			Double plain copper wire braid

Data for attenuation figures are typical figures and measured in dB / 10 metres.
Dimensions in mm.

This RF cable data has been presented as a guide and no liability can be taken for any errors or mistakes in the data. Naturally every care has been taken to ensure the data concerning these RF cables is correct.